dispelling Myths about medieval Combat

[Timelord]

Swords and similar hand combat sharp weapons have a very real place in SHTF settings. They are still used in many places round the World today and have been seen used in Egypt during the recent uprising. Most people after a SHTF event or during it, will not be armed with projectile weapons and those that are, (inc preppers) will not have them constantly cocked, loaded, shouldered and pointing in the right direction. In crowded environments and urban structures, then an edged weapon is a very useful tool. It can be far quicker to draw and cut with one, than to deploy a crossbow or bow or other projectile weapons in some circumstances. In a more crowded environment, an edged weapon can be carried discreetly while being ready to draw very rapidly. In this way it could attract a lot less attention than a rifle or crossbow.
The ability to have some rudimentary knowledge of how to use an edged weapon & preferably more than just a knife, is something that enables you to understand the aims, objectives, body mechanics and weapon abilities of any aggressor wielding one. This could be very useful and is in no way obsolete. In fact you are much more likely to come across someone armed with a non projectile weapon than otherwise. The mental learning development of a prepper, actually increases their conscious exposure to prep related weapons massively - BUT mainly from the point of view of what the prepper would wish for a SHTF or PSHTF situation and not necessarily for the seemingly more mundane probablility of what actually a civilian aggressor is likely to be using as a weapon. In the majority of cases for the UK, this has more probability of being a hand held non ranged weapon. Safe travels, TL